Designation: D 4976 – 04a

Standard Specification for

Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4976; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

INTRODUCTION

This specification is not intended for the selection of materials, but only as a means to call out
plastic materials to be used for the manufacture of parts. The selection of these materials is to be made
by personnel with expertise in the plastics field where the environment, inherent properties of the
materials, performance of the parts, part design, manufacturing process, and economics are
considered. This specification does not specify the source of the resin to be used for the fabrication
of any given article.

1. Scope* of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health

1.1 This specification provides for the identification of
polyethylene plastics molding and extrusion materials in such
a manner that the supplier and the user can agree on the
acceptability of different commercial lots or shipments. The
tests involved in this specification are intended to provide
information for identifying materials in accordance with the
groups, classes, and grades covered. It is not the function of
this specification to provide specific engineering data for
design purposes.
1.2 Other requirements may be necessary to identify par-
ticular characteristics important to specialized applications.
These shall be agreed upon between the user and the supplier,
by using the suffixes given in Section 1.3.
1.3 Ethylene plastic materials, being thermoplastic, are
reprocessable and recyclable (see Note 1). This specification
allows for the use of those ethylene plastic materials, provided
that any specific requirements as governed by the producer and
the end user are met.
NOTE 1—See Guide D 5033 for information and definitions related to
recycled plastics.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are regarded as the
standard.
1.5 The following precautionary caveat pertains to the test
method portion only, Section 12, of this specification. This
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
tions prior to use.
1.6 For information regarding plastic pipe materials see
Specification D 3350. For information regarding wire and
cable materials, see Specification D 1248. For information on
polyethylenes with densities below 0.910 g/cm3, see Classifi-
cation D 5593.
NOTE 2—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2
D 257 Test Methods for D-C Resistance or Conductance of
Insulating Materials
D 568 Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and
Time of Burning of Flexible Plastics in a Vertical Position3
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D 635 Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and
Time of Burning of Self-Supporting Plastics in a Horizon-
tal Position
D 638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
D 790 Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced
and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials
D 792 Test Methods for Density and Specific Gravity (Rela-
tive Density) of Plastics by Displacement
D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D 1238 Test Method for Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by

1 2
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.15 on Thermoplastic contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Materials. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved December 1, 2004. Published December 2004. Origi- the ASTM website.
3
nally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as D 4976 - 04. Withdrawn.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

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Extrusion Plastometer
D 1248 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and
Extrusion Materials
D 1505 Test Method for Density of Plastics by the Density-
Gradient Technique
D 1531 Test Methods for Relative Permittivity (Dielectric
Constant) and Dissipation Factor by Fluid Displacement
Procedures
D 1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to
Plastics
D 1693 Test Method for Environmental Stress-Cracking of
Ethylene Plastics
D 1898 Practice for Sampling of Plastics3
D 2565 Practice for Xenon Arc Exposure of Plastics In-
tended for Outdoor Applications
D 2951 Test Method for Resistance of Types III and IV
Polyethylene Plastics to Thermal Stress-Cracking
D 3350 Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Pipe and
Fitting Materials
D 3892 Practice for Packaging/Packing of Plastics
D 4000 Classification System for Specifying Plastic Mate-
rials
D 4329 Practice for Fluorescent UV Exposure of Plastics
D 4703 Practice for Compression Molding Thermoplastic
Materials into Test Specimens, Plaques, or Sheets
D 4883 Test Method for Density of Polyethylene by the
Ultrasound Technique
D 5033 Guide for the Development of Standards Relating to
the Proper Use of Recycled Plastics
D 5593 Classification for Thermoplastic Elastomers—
Olefinic (TEO)
D 6360 Practice for Enclosed Carbon Arc Exposures of
Plastics
E 29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
Determine Conformance with Specifications
F 1473 Test Method for Notch Tensile Test to Measure the
Resistance to Slow Crack Growth on Polyethylene Pipes
and Resins
2.2 Military Standard:
MIL-STD-105 Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspec-
tion by Attributes4
2.3 DOT Standard:
4
Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, Bldg. 4 Section D, 700
Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS.
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D 4976 – 04a
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 302, Flammability
of Interior Materials5
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of technical terms pertain-
ing to plastics used in this specification, see Terminology
D 883 and Terminology D 1600.
3.2 Historical usage and user group conventions have re-
sulted in inconsistent terminology used to categorize and
describe polyethylene resins and compounds. The following
terminology is in use in ASTM specifications pertaining to
polyethylene:
3.2.1 Specification D 1248:
3.2.1.1 Type (I, II, III, IV) = density ranges (same, respec-
tively, as Classes 1, 2, 3, and 4 in Specification D 4976).
3.2.1.2 Class (A, B, C, D) = composition and use.
3.2.1.3 Category (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) = melt index ranges (same as
Grade in Specification D 4976).
3.2.1.4 Grade (E, J, D, or W followed by one or two digits)
= specific requirements from tables.
3.2.2 Specification D 3350:
3.2.2.1 Type (I, II, III) = density ranges (same as Types I, II,
and III in Specification D 1248 and Classes 1, 2, and 3 in
Specification D 4976).
3.2.2.2 Class = a line callout system consisting of “PE”
followed by six cell numbers from Table 1 plus a letter (A, B,
C, D, E) denoting color and UV stabilizer.
3.2.2.3 Grade = simplified line callout system using “PE”
followed by density and slow crack growth cell numbers from
Table 1.
3.2.3 Specification D 4976:
3.2.3.1 Group (1, 2) = branched or linear polyethylene.
3.2.3.2 Class (1, 2, 3, 4) = density ranges (same, respec-
tively, as Types I, II, III, and IV in Specification D 1248).
3.2.3.3 Grade (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) = melt index ranges (same as
Category in Specification D 1248).
4. Classification
4.1 Unreinforced polyethylene plastic materials are classi-
fied into groups in accordance with molecular structure. These
groups are subdivided into classes and grades as shown in
Table PE (Basic Property Table).
5
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 D 4976 – 04a

TABLE PE Basic Requirement of Polyethylene Plastics

Flexural Modulus at
Flow Rate, D 1238, Tensile Stress at Yield, Nominal Strain at
Group Description Class Description Grade 2 % Strain, D 790,
g/10 min D 638, min, MPa Break, D 638, min, %
min, MPa
1 Branched 1 low density 1 >25 8 70 100
... 2 >10 to 25 8 90 125
0.910–0.925 3 >1 to 10 8.5 100 125
... 4 >0.4 to 1 9.5 300 125
... 5 to 0.4 9.5 400 150
... 0 ... ... ... ...
2 medium density 1 >25 8 40 200
... 2 >10 to 25 11 50 200
>0.925–0.940 3 >1 to 10 11 70 200
... 4 >0.4 to 1 11 200 250
... 5 to 0.4 12 400 300
... 0 ... ... ... ...
0 ... 0 ... ... ... ...
2 Linear 1 low density 1 >25 10 300 300
... 2 >10 to 25 10 300 325
0.910–0.925 3 >1 to 10 10 300 350
... 4 >0.4 to 1 10 400 350
... 5 to 0.4 12 500 400
... 0 ... ... ... ...
2 medium density 1 >25 14 90 500
... 2 >10 to 25 14 100 500
>0.925–0.940 3 >1 to 10 14 100 550
... 4 >0.4 to 1 15 200 600
... 5 to 0.4 19 400 600
... 0 ... ... ... ...
3 high density 1 >25 17 10 400
... 2 >10 to 25 17 50 400
>0.940–0.960 3 >1 to 10 18 200 450
... 4 >0.4 to 1 19 400 500
... 5 to 0.4 20 600 600
... 0 ... ... ... ...
4 high density 1 >25 24 10 500
... 2 >10 to 25 24 10 600
>0.960 3 >1 to 10 25 30 800
... 4 >0.4 to 1 28 300 900
... 5 to 0.4 28 400 1000
... 0 ... ... ... ...
0 0 ... 0 ... ... ... ...
Cell Table A Detail Requirements for Polyethylene Plastics

Designation Or- Cell Limits

Property
der Number 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 Tensile Stress at Yield, Test Method D 638, MPa, min unspecified 4 8 12 16 21 30 35 ... specify value
2 Nominal Strain at Break, Test Method D 638, %, min unspecified 25 50 200 400 600 800 1000 ... specify value
3 Secant Flexural Modulus at 2 % Strain, D 790, MPa, min unspecified 50 100 200 400 600 800 1000 ... specify value
4 Thermal stress-crack resistance, D 2951, hours without crack- unspecified 24 48 96 168 ... ... ... ... specify value
ing, min
5 Environmental stress-crack resistance, D 1693, min F50, h unspecified 24 48 96 168 336 672 1008 ... specify value
Cell Table B Detail Requirements for Polyethylene Plastics

Designation Or- Cell Limits

Property
der Number 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1 Tensile Stress at Yield, D 638, MPa, min unspecified 4 8 12 16 21 30 35 ... specify value
2 Nominal Strain at Break, D 638, %, min unspecified 25 50 200 400 600 800 1000 ... specify value
3 Secant Flexural Modulus at 2 % Strain, D 790, MPa, min unspecified 50 100 200 400 600 800 1000 ... specify value
4 Thermal stress-crack resistance, D 2951, hours without crack- unspecified 24 48 96 168 ... ... ... ... specify value
ing, min
5 Slow Crack Growth Resistance, PENT-Test Method F 1473, h, unspecified 0.3 1 3 10 30 100 300 ... specify value
min

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 D 4976 – 04a
NOTE 3—An example of this classification system is as follows: The First digit
designation PE 112 would indicate PE, polyethylene as found in Termi- 0 = To be specified by user.
nology D 1600, 1 (group) branched, 1 (class) low density, 2 (grade) >25 1 = Product is 3.05-mm thickness, min.
melt index. 2 = Product is 1.47-mm thickness, min.
3 = Product is 0.71-mm thickness, min.
4.2 Cell Tables A or B shall be used to specify the physical 4 = Product is 0.38-mm thickness, min.
property requirements that shall be shown by a five-digit 5 = Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 302.
Second Digit
designation. The designation shall consist of the letter A and 0 = To be specified by user.
the five digits comprising the cell numbers for the property 1 = When burned horizontally in accordance with Test Method D 635, a mate-
requirements in the order they appear in Cell Table A. rial:
(a) Does not have a burning rate exceeding 38.1 mm/min over a
4.2.1 Although the values listed are necessary to include the 76.2-mm span for specimens of 3.05 to 12.7-mm thickness; or
range of properties available in the existing materials, users (b) Does not have a horizontal burning rate exceeding 76.2 mm/min
over a 76.2-mm span for specimens of less than 3.05-mm thickness; or
should not infer that every possible combination of the (c) Ceases to burn, horizontally, before the 102-mm reference mark.
properties exist or can be obtained. 2 = When burned vertically in accordance with Test Method D 568, the mate-
rial:
NOTE 4—It is recognized that some high-density polyethylene plastics (a) Does not have any specimens that burn with flaming combustion for
of very high molecular weight may have densities slightly less than 0.960, more than 30 s after two applications of the test flame:
yet in all other respects they are characteristic of Class 4 materials. (b) Does not have a total flaming combustion time exceeding 250 s for
Similarly, there are other polyethylene plastics of very high molecular 10 flame applications for each set of five specimens;
weight having densities slightly less than 0.941 that, in all other respects, (c) Does not have any specimens that burn with flaming or glowing
combustion up to the holder clamp;
are more characteristic of Class 2 than of Class 3 materials. (d) Has specimens that drip flaming particles that ignite the dry absor-
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NOTE 5—Use the following terms in describing polyethylene plastics: bent surgical cotton placed 305 mm [12 in.] below the test specimen;
Class 1 (0.910 to 0.925) = low density, (e) Does not have any specimens with glowing combustion that persists
Class 2 (>0.925 to 0.940) = medium density, for more than 60 s after the second removal of the test flame.
Class 3 (>0.940 to 0.960) = high density, 3 = When burned vertically in accordance with Test Method D 568, the mate-
rial:
Class 4 (>0.960) = high density, and
(a) Does not have any specimens that burn with flaming combustion for
While Class 3 has been divided into two ranges of density, (Classes 3 and more than 30 s after either application of the test flame;
4), both are still described by the term “high density.” (b) Does not have a total flaming combustion time exceeding 250 s for
the 10 flame applications for each set of five specimens;
5. Suffixes (c) Does not have any specimens that burn with flaming or glowing
combustion up to the holding clamp;
5.1 When using the call-out for the materials covered by this (d) Does not have any specimens that drip flaming particles that ignite
specification, the following suffixes may be used for specific the dry absorbent surgical cotton located 305 mm [12 in.] below the test
specimen;
requirements of the material for the application intended. In (e) Does not have any specimens with glowing combustion that persists
general, the suffix letter indicates the requirement needed; the for more than 60 s after the second removal of the test flame.
first number (digit) indicates the test condition, and the second 4 = When burned vertically as described in Test Method D 568, the material:
(a) Does not have any specimens that burn with flaming combustion for
number (digit) indicates the specimen requirement. The suf- more than 10 s after either application of the test flame;
fixes are as follows: (b) Does not have a total flaming combustion time exceeding 50 s for
5.1.1 E = Electrical requirements as designated by the the 10 flame applications for each set of five specimens;
(c) Does not have any specimens that burn with flaming or glowing
following digits: combustion up to the holding clamp;
(d) Does not have any specimens that drip flaming particles that ignite
First Digit the dry absorbent surgical cotton located 305 mm [12 in.] below the test
0 =To be specified by user. specimen;
1 =Specimens preconditioned 40 h at 23°C and 50 % relative humidity, (e) Does not have any specimens with glowing combustion that persists
then 14 days in distilled water at 23 6 1°C. for more than 30 s after the second removal of the test flame.
Second Digit 5 = When burned vertically in accordance with Test Method D 568, the mate-
0 =To be specified by user. rial:
1 =Volume resistivity, permittivity, and dissipation factor meet property (a) Does not have any specimens that burn with flaming or glowing
limits as shown as follows. These are electrical limits usually applied combustion for more than 60 s after the fifth flame;
to unreinforced polyethylene plastics when control of their electrical (b) Does not have any specimens that drip particles.
properties is required. 6 = Has a burn rate less than 100 mm/min.

Electrical Properties: 5.1.3 W = Weatherability requirements as designated by the

following digits:
Test
Methods
First Digit
Permittivity, max D 1531 2.30
0 = To be specified by user.
Dissipation factor, max D 1531 0.001
1 = Specimens exposed to xenon-arc type light source, in accordance with
Volume resistivity, min D 257 1 3 1015
Practice D 2565, Cycle 1, except that the irradiance shall be 0.70
V-cm
W/(m2•nm) at 340 nm. (For comparison to historical data it is permissible
Water immersion stability D 1531 shall meet the dielectric
to use the D 2565, Cycle 1 irradiance of 0.35 W/(m2•nm) at 340 nm. If
constant and dissipation
used, this shall be noted in the results report.)
factor requirements

5.1.2 F = Flammability requirements6 as designated by the 6

By publication of this specification and its use of flammability ratings, ASTM
following digits: does not suggest that their use in any way reflects hazards presented under actual fire
conditions.

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 D 4976 – 04a
2 = Specimens exposed to carbon-arc type light source, in accordance with
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Practice D 6360, using a humidity controlled apparatus. (This test shall be
used only if necessary for comparison with historical data. In all other
cases, tests shall be in accordance with Numbers 1 or 4 of this section.)
3 = Specimens exposed to fluorescent-UV-condensation type light source, in
accordance with Practice D 4329, Cycle A, Type UVB 313 lamps. (This
condition shall only be used if necessary for comparison with historical
data. Condition 4 shall be used in all other cases.)
4 = Specimens exposed to fluorescent-UV-condensation type light source, in
accordance with Practice D 4329, Cycle A, Type UVA 340 lamps. The irra-
diance level shall be 0.70 W/(m2•nm) at 340 nm.
Specimens for Conditions 1, 2, 3 and 4 above shall be Test Method D 638,
Type IV tensile bars.
Second Digit
0 = To be specified by user.
1 = 200-h exposure.
2 = 500-h exposure.
3 = 1000-h exposure.
4 = 2000-h exposure.
5 = 4000-h exposure.
6 = 6000-h exposure.
7 = 8000-h exposure.
8 = 10000-h exposure.
NOTE 6—The exposure duration shall be that necessary to produce a
substantial change in the property evaluated on testing a product known to
give poor performance in the application of interest. This requirement will
provide a duration of sufficient length to identify an unacceptable material.
5.1.3.1 The exposed specimens shall not exhibit surface
changes (such as, dulling and chalking) or deep-seated changes
(such as, checking, crazing, warping, and discoloration). The
tensile strength after exposure must be no less than 50 % of the
original.
5.1.4 Z = Other special requirements (for example, internal
mold release agent) not covered by existing call-out capabili-
ties may be assigned by the user. These shall be spelled out in
detail and identified in sequence, that is, 01 UV-stabilized, 02
special color, and 03 etc.
5.2 Additional suffixes will be added to this specification as
test methods and requirements are developed or requested, or
both.
5.3 Additional suffixes that may be used are listed in Table
3 of Classification D 4000. These use the two-letter, three-digit
suffix system as established for the classification system for
plastic materials.
6. Basic Requirements
6.1 Basic requirements from property or cell tables, as they
apply, are always in effect unless these requirements are
superseded by specific suffix requirements, that always take
precedence.
7. Chemical Composition
7.1 The plastic composition shall be uniform and shall
conform to the requirements specified herein. The color and
form of the material shall be as agreed upon between the
supplier and the user. Specification changes due to the effects
of colorants should be noted by both parties and, when
necessary, covered by suffixes.
8. Other Requirements
8.1 Test specimens for the various materials shall conform
to the requirements prescribed in Table PE and Cell Tables A
and B, and to suffix requirements as they apply.
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8.2 Observed or calculated values obtained from analysis,
measurement or test, shall be rounded in accordance with the
rounding method in Practice E 29 to the nearest unit in the last
right-hand place of figures used in expressing the specified
limiting value. The value obtained is compared directly with
the specified limiting value. Conformance or nonconformance
with the specification is based on this comparison.
9. Sampling
9.1 Unless otherwise agreed upon between the user and the
supplier, the materials shall be sampled in accordance with the
sampling procedure in Practice D 1898. Adequate statistical
sampling shall be considered an acceptable alternative. A batch
or lot of resin shall be considered as a unit of manufacture as
prepared for shipment and may consist of a blend of two or
more production runs of material.
10. Specimen Preparation
10.1 Unless otherwise specified, test specimens shall be
compression molded in accordance with Annex A1, Procedure
C of Practice D 4703.
10.2 The specimen type and dimensions shall comply with
those described in the test method section. Die-cut specimens
are recommended; however, machine-cut specimens are ac-
ceptable.
11. Conditioning
11.1 Conditioning—Once specimens are molded, they shall
be moved to a standard laboratory atmosphere or a controlled
laboratory atmosphere. For natural unfilled polyethylene plas-
tics the controlled laboratory atmosphere shall be 23 6 2°C.
Test specimens, 7 mm or under in thickness, shall be condi-
tioned for a minimum of 40 h immediately prior to testing. Test
specimens over 7 mm in thickness shall be conditioned for 88
h. For filled and reinforced polyethylene plastics or polyethyl-
ene plastic blends, which contain a hydrophilic co-monomer,
pigment, or modifier the specimens shall be conditioned in a
standard laboratory atmosphere of 23 6 2°C and 50 6 5 %
relative humidity (see Practice D 618, Procedure A). For all
materials to be conditioned for electrical testing, conditioning
shall comply with the requirements of the standard test
methods for electrical testing. In all cases the laboratory shall
report both the temperature and humidity conditions during the
conditioning period.
11.2 Test Conditions—Natural unfilled polyethylene plas-
tics shall be tested in a controlled laboratory atmosphere of
23 6 2°C. For filled and reinforced polyethylene plastics and
polyethylene plastic blends, which contain a hydrophilic co-
monomer, pigment, or modifier the specimens shall be condi-
tioned in a standard laboratory atmosphere of 23 6 2°C and
50 6 5 % relative humidity. For all materials to be tested for
electrical properties, the laboratory shall comply with the
requirements of the standard test methods for electrical testing.
In all cases the laboratory shall report both the temperature and
humidity conditions during testing.
11.3 Dispute—In cases of dispute, conditioning and testing
shall be conducted in accordance with Procedure A of Practice
D 618.
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 D 4976 – 04a
12. Test Methods
12.1 Determine the properties enumerated in this specifica-
tion in accordance with the ASTM methods as they apply,
unless otherwise stated in this specification.
12.1.1 Flow Rate—Test Method D 1238, using Condition
190°C/2.16 kg unless otherwise directed, (see Note 5). Make
duplicate determinations on the material in the form of powder,
granules, or pellets. No conditioning is required.
NOTE 7—Although the flow rate of polyethylene plastics may be
measured under any of the conditions listed for it under 6.2 of Test Method
D 1238, only measurements made at Condition 190°C/2.16 kg may be
identified as “melt index.”
This method of test serves to indicate the degree of uniformity of the
flow rate of the polymer of a single manufacturer as made by an individual
process and in this case may be indicative of the degree of uniformity of
other properties. However, uniformity of flow rate among various poly-
mers of various manufacturers as made by various processes does not, in
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12.1.4 Secant Flexural Modulus at 2 % Strain—Test Meth-
ods D 790, using Procedure B, with a 51-mm [2-in.] span, and
testing speed of 12.7 mm/min [0.5 in./min]. Test each 3.2 by
12.7-mm [0.125 by 0.5-in.] specimen flatwise and calculate the
average value of the secant modulus at 2 % strain in the outer
fibers.
12.1.5 Environmental Stress-Crack Resistance, Test Method
D 1693—The materials resistance shall meet the minimum
requirement shown for the appropriate cell classification (in
Cell Table A) when tested in accordance with Test Method
D 1693. Polyethylene materials with densities less than or
equal to 0.925 shall be tested in accordance with Test Method
D 1693, Condition A. Polyethylenes with densities greater than
0.925 shall be tested in accordance to Test Method D 1693,
Condition B.
NOTE 8—The specimen dimensions and notch depths are different for

the absence of other tests, indicate uniformity of other properties and vice these two conditions.
versa. Igepal concentration for all testing is 100%. F50 shall be
The melt viscosity of polyethylene plastics, in common with that of reported. F50 is the time required for failure of 50 % of the
most high polymers, is non Newtonian, that is, dependent on the rate of
shear. The degree of departure from Newtonian behavior depends on the
specimen tested in accordance with the graphical method
nature and molecular constitution of the individual sample. Additional described in Test Method D 1693.
characterization of the sample can be obtained if other conditions are used. 12.1.6 Slow Crack Growth Resistance, Test Method
Especially recommended as an adjunct to Condition 190°C/2.16 kg is F 1473—The average failure time from two test specimens
Condition 190°C/10.0 kg or Condition 190°C/21.6 kg. shall meet the minimum requirement shown (in Cell Table B)
12.1.2 Density—Test Method D 1505 or alternate methods for the appropriate cell classification when tested in accordance
of suitable accuracy, as described in Method A or Method B of with Test Method F 1473 at 80°C and at 2.4 MPa stress.
Test Methods D 792 or Test Method D 4883. Perform duplicate Specimen shall be prepared in accordance with the procedures
density determinations using two specimens taken from the described in Test Method F 1473. A specimen with a nominal
same molding or one specimen taken from each of two thickness of 10 mm shall be used. Test at least four specimens
moldings. in case of a dispute.
12.1.3 Tensile Stress at Yield, Nominal Strain at Break, Test 12.1.7 Thermal Stress Crack Resistance, Test Method
Method D 638—The speed of grip separation shall be 500 mm D 2951—Specimen dimensions shall be in accordance with
[20 in.]/min for specimens of densities of 0.925 g/cm3 or less Test Method D 2951. Each specimen being nominally 127 by
and 50 mm [2 in.]/min for densities greater than 0.925 g/cm3. 6.4 by 1.27 mm [5 by 0.25 by 0.05 in.]
Specimens shall conform to the dimensions given for Type IV
in Test Method D 638 with thickness of 1.9 6 0.2 mm 13. Packaging and Package Marking
[0.075 6 0.008 in.]. Percentage elongation at break shall 13.1 For packing, packaging, and package marking, the
include the cold-drawing distance. Test results for specimens provisions of Practice D 3892 apply.
that break outside the gage marks after extensive cold drawing
need not be discarded unless the break occurs between the 14. Keywords
contact surfaces of a grip. 14.1 molding and extrusion materials; polyethylene

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

The following supplementary items may become part of this specification, when applicable, as
agreed upon between the user and the supplier.

S1. Approval S2. Infrared Spectrophotometry or Thermal Analysis, or

S1.1 Material submitted by a new supplier must be ap- Both
proved by the user. Material or test specimens submitted by the S2.1 At the option of the user, infrared or thermal analysis,
supplier and intended for evaluation shall be accompanied by or both may be conducted on material/parts supplied to this
the supplier’s laboratory test report. specification. The curves established for initial approval shall
S1.2 New Sources—The user may elect to temporarily constitute the reference standard and shall be kept on file at the
accept shipment on the supplier’s certification.

Copyright ASTM International 6

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 D 4976 – 04a
user’s laboratory. All samples shall produce curves that corre- specific use requirements. This is discussed in Sections 7 and
spond to the reference standard within agreed upon tolerances 8 of Practice D 1898, with reference to MIL-STD-105. In the
when tested under the same conditions as those specified on the absence of contrary requirements, the following values shall
master set of curves. apply:
S2.2 In the event such tests are to be designated as require-
ments to be tested by the supplier, this must appear on the part Testing (polymer, unfabricated) IL AQL
drawing or purchase contract, or both. S-1 ...

S3. Quality Assurance Provisions for Government/

Military Procurement
NOTE S00012—Inspection Level (IL) samples shall be drawn from the
S3.1 Selection of Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) and of required number of units and pooled for preparation of molded samples
Inspection Level (IL) shall be made with consideration of the for property evaluation.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee D20 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue,
D 4976 - 04, that may impact the use of this standard. (December 1, 2004)

(1) Updated weathering standards in 2.1. (2) Revised 5.1.3 on weatherability.

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in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

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Copyright ASTM International 7

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved);
Provided by IHS under license with ASTM Sold to:LADTECH, INC., W0355264
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale,2006/9/25 21:13:10 GMT
Reproduction authorized per License Agreement with Kathe Hooper (ASTMIHS Account); Mon Jan 10 16:15:53 EST 2005